Angelina Jolie has always run to the beat of her own drum. Whether it be kissing her brother on the mouth, wearing a vile of Billy Bob Thortons blood around her neck, or expressing her desires to be a funeral director, Angelina has always left a taste in peoples mouths. Good or bad? Thats the real question. Angelina is a mega celebrity who has shown her heart time and time again, yet as a society we recognize her more for her “quirks” than positive efforts. Until now. Angie has yet again shocked the Nation by opting to have a Double Mastectomy without even a detection of cancer. (other than her risk of developing it) She said “We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has.” In a turn of events, everyone seems to have hopped on the Angelina bandwagon, and for good reason. She did something brave,selfless,and incredibly scary all while in the public eye. In my opinion, she deserves all the positive attention she’s getting. I just wish people would have noticed her heart sooner.

Even if you are not a sports fan like myself, I’m sure you heard rumblings about a particular basketball player today. Jason Collins who is a “veteran center” of the NBA announced today that he was gay. Although other athletes have been suspected of being gay in the past, Jason is the first person to directly state it. He said a quote that really stuck with me, ”I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, ‘I’m different.’ If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.” This quote displays such courage to me. Like other people who have played in the sports world before him, he wished that somebody had already opened the door for him to he himself. It takes real strength to be the first, but mostly real belief. In doing what Jason did, he stood up for himself and millions of other people. Jason didn’t only affect the sports and gay community, he affected anybody who feels different, but believes enough in their voice to own it. He took a stand for the greater good! This is what heroes look like.